Elephant beetle

Description:

The largest and most common beetle species found in the United States ranging from Florida to Arizona. In fact, this beetle is sometimes called (erroneously) the "Southwestern Ox Beetle", perhaps because of its prevalence in that area of the country. It also occurs southward into South America. Other common names are Eeastern Hercules Beetle and Elephant Beetle. The Ox Beetle is relatively large (up to 2 inches long) and colored yellowish or greenish-gray with brown to black spots. Rarely are they reddish-brown. The Ox Beetle's mouthparts are for chewing.